Ethiopia's champions in Boston to defend marathon titles

Kathrine Switzer, the Boston Marathon pioneer who ran as the first woman registered in the race, returned for the 50th anniversary of the event Monday. A Syracuse University journalism student, she entered the race under her initials, K.V. Switzer.

Running the 1967 Boston Marathon changed the course of Switzer's life. "I was thinking about and praying about him throughout the race, and thinking about what he has to overcome and the fact that it's much more than what I did today".

Jordan Hasay ran the fastest-ever marathon by an American in a debut.

In her memoir, Switzer recalls Semple screaming as he reached for her bib number, "Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!".

Kathrine Switzer became a hero of the women's rights movement in 1967 after she officially completed the then all-male race.

Switzer told CNN that running in the two races 50 years apart was "like night and day".

Ms Switzer's run 50 years ago is widely credited with forcing the Boston Marathon to start allowing female runners in 1972.

She noted that a woman had already run the course once - without entering. I said to my coach immediately after the incident: 'I have to finish this race now because if I drop out of this race, nobody's going to believe that women are serious'.

Jose Luis Sanchez, a Texas Marine who lost his left leg after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan in 2011, carried an American flag through the race.

All eyes were on Boston on Monday, April 17 as people around the world tuned in to see the results of the 121st Boston Marathon. Her boyfriend at the time pulled him away and Switzer was able to run to the finish line.

There was no apparent restriction on a woman's participation in the marathon.

Evans said Monday he was running to show the public the race was back to normal.

This isn't Granville's first marathon either - he used a hand-bike to compete in marathons in Boston, Chicago, Detroit and NY despite his injury but didn't use a bike this time around.

"I was just thinking of the support I've had over the last four years", Fucarile said. CBS Boston captured her crossing the finish line, and it's a glorious moment. She founded the women's running club 261 Fearless, named after her 1967 Boston Marathon number.